869 Lessons
Vayigash MASHIACH ben YOSEF
the Leadership Duel between Yoseph and Yehuda- The Haftarah of VaYigash
Description: Our sages draw the confrontation between Yehuda and Yosef as the two types of leadership in Jewish history. Through this we can finally understand who exactly is that mysterious "Mashiach ben Yosef", and what Rav Kook (based on the Vilna Gaon) meant when he said that Dr. Herzl had a spark of that Mashiach.
Vayetze "TANACH= HEALTHY SOULS IN HEALTHY BODIES"- Parshat VaYetzeh
Rav Kook explains the interesting phenomenon that the Tanach Heroes must also be physically strong and military heroes. He connects it with the Ideal Jew who is a healthy soul in a healthy body, which we must revive and educate today, with our return to Israel.
Toldot "YA'AKOV DONS ESAV'S ARMS"
How can we understand that Yitzchak preferred & even considered giving the bracha of Eretz Yisrael to Esav? This short article explains a new pshat (literal understanding) as well as having important ramifications for today's current events between Israel & Hamas.
Chayei Sara "BUYING LAND/HOMES IN ISRAEL"
Avraham's "elaborate" and prolonged give-and-take to acquire Chevron has important eternal and practical messages, especially for the many New-Yorkers recently considering buying homes in Israel!
Vayera "PROACTIVE OR PLAY DUMB: AVRAHAM ACTS- AVIMELECH 'ALIBIS'
Many don't notice that our parsha explicitly pits Avraham Avinu as the ANTI-THESIS of Avimelech. After the Akeidah, Avraham is described: "now I know that you have YIRAT ELOKIM" (22, 12) as opposed to when he answers Avimelech's question, "what did I do wrong by 'accidentally' taking your wife?": Avraham precisely answers: "it's just that there is NO Yirat Elokim in this place". What exactly is that "Awe of G-d" that should typify our actions and get us to even initiate "Hineni", and conversely avoid the common search for excuses & alibis so prevalent in the western world?
